Is Photoshop Elements adequate if you can't afford the main Photoshop software?

My sister has done some nice creative stuff with Elements - that's why I ask.

Elements is pretty good, depending on what you want to do. Take a look at Paintshop Pro for $99.00. You can download a free evaluation copy here:

http://www.jasc.com/

Or, you may want to look at GIMP, which is free:

http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/

or the free 602Pro Office Suite, which includes a pretty nice photo program:

http://www.software602.com/products/pcs/

It really depends on just what you want to do with your photos.

Jim